Couch-hammock.



I. E. PALMER.

COUGH HAMMOGK. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, 190B.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' ii 23 Zfliweses.

052W mcofw Zflziness as.

I. E. PALMER.

COUCH HAMMOGK APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31, 1908.

944,814. Patented Dec.28,1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

3/ J5 ITOUCD/TUZL/OTZ Baaofi'. Fanzer:

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E. PALMER (30., OF MIDDLETOW'N, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CQUCI-I-I-IAMMOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Application filed December 31, 1908. Serial No. 470,149.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Couch-Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates more particularly to hammocks of the general type disclosed in my Patent No. 574,078, December 29, 1896, and No. 901,936, October 30, 1908.

In order that the principles of the invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated certain embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away or displaced, of one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a construction similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but presenting a somewhat modified form; Figs. 3, 1 and 5 are similar sections, but representing further modified forms; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a. protecting member or guard adapted for use in the forms of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of that particular type of my invention shown in Patent No. 901,936 and having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 8 is a detail representing in elevation the inner edge of one of the longitudinal members of the frame; Figs. 9 and 10 are transverse sections of further modified forms of my invention; and Fig. 11 represents a form of seating not herein claimed and that may be employed in the practice of my invention.

Referring first to the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, I have therein represented a hammock body of suitable and preferably textile material having a main portion 1 and end portions 2-2 preferably having spreaders 3 and suitable suspending means, as cords 44:. I apply to the main portion of the hammock body a frame herein represented as composed of longitudinal or side members 5-5 and end members 6 suitably connected thereto. In the form of my invention shown in this figure, the frame is applied to the upper face of the hammock in such manner as to provide a seat or supporting portion, preferably flat. The hammock body is here shown as shaped to receive the frame, being here provided with upstanding longitudinal edges 77 sewed or otherwise connected to the ends 2-2. In Fig. 1, one of said edges is shown as separated from the end 2 to make more clear the construction of the parts. Preferably, however, the edges 77 are permanently eonnectedto the ends 22. Preferably the frame is of skeleton form and may be provided with a cord 8 laced back and forth between the side members. The greater part of the main portion 1, as for example all except the parts immediately adjacent the upstanding edges 77 and the ends 22, may be of less expensive material than the said ends and edges, thus effecting a mate rial saving in the cost of the hammock. I have indicated in dotted lines at 9 in Fig. 1 the line of union of the less expensive part of the main portion 1 and the upstanding edges 77 and ends 22. Preferably I provide a' covering or mattress 10 adapted to rest upon the frame, the mattress being here shown as received within the upstanding edges 77. I contemplate the provision of means to prevent displacement of the mat tress by the hammock body and to provide,

as it were, a well defined receptacle for the I mattress. In this embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by providing corner brackets or castings 11 shown in detail in Fig. 6 and adapted to be preferably removably attached to the frame, so as to permit their detachment and the inverting of the frame, if the latter becomes bent in use. I have shown each bracket as provided with a base 12 and a web 13, between which the corner of the frame is received. A dowel pin or other securing means may be placed through the hole let so as to penetrate the frame. The brackets may be made of any suitable material, as for example cast metal. The brackets when positioned maintain the edge portions 77 in upright taut condition, and also position the lower ends of the end pieces 2, thus providing well defined walls within which the mattress or covering 10 may be received. The said brackets may be of any desired shape and extent. The castings, members or brackets 11 thus not only serve as mattress guards but provide a backing, reinforcement, support or positioning means against which the sides or corners of the hammock body may be tightened or fitted, and which. will support the side walls as well as the corners, perpendicularly to the bottom, or substantially so, and prevent sagging.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, the body portion 1 terminates at the edges l2-12, so that in this instance the body portion consists of longitudinal strips 13-13 underlying and supporting the longitudinal members of the frame, the said strips being united at the ends of the frame if desired and connected to the end pieces or parts in any suitable manner. In this figure, I have shown the frame as pro vided with a cord 8 laced back and forth. If desired, in this construction and that shown in Fig. l, the cord may extend endwise, being connected to the end members of the frame.

I contemplate the provision of means for supporting closely adjacent or at the upper edge of the frame that portion of the body that underlies the frame, or the connecting means for the lateral edges of such portion, so that such portion may receive and support the covering or mattress without necessitating the sagging or giving of the cover ing or mattress before it contacts with such support. This keeps the mattress or other covering flat, and so supports the occupant of the hammock in a more comfortable position than heretofore. This may be accomplished in any desired manner. In Figs. 3 and 8, I have represented the longitudinal members of the frame as provided with hooks or eyes 14: receiving therein rods 15, over which the opposite inner edges of the body or means connected thereto pass. The said rods are supported close to or at the upper face of the frame, so that the edge portions 1616 of the body when passed thereover are thereby supported adjacent or at the upper face of the frame. In assembling the parts, the edge portions 16-16 may be slitted transversely for a suflicient distance to permit them to be positioned as shown over the hooks or eyes, after which the rods 14 may be engaged with the latter, preferably by an endwise movement of the rods. The edge port-ions l616 may be connected together in any suitable manner, as by metallic, double ended hooks or wires 17, shown in Fig. 3, passing through eyes 18, or by means of a cord or lacing 19, shown in Fig. 4:. The edge portions 1(31G and the corresponding parts in other figures constitute what I term the underlying portion of the body.

In Fig. 5, I have represented the application of a separate connecting and supporting member 20, preferably of cloth having means detachably to engage the inner edges of the body portion. The member 20 may be of any suitable extent. I have, in this type of the invention, represented it as provided with edge hooks 21 engaging eyes 22 in the edge portions 16 of the body.

In the type of the invention represented in Fig. 7, the body portion 23 is represented as overlying the frame 24, which is provided with corner brackets 25 to receive end cross rods or bearings 26 similar to those shown in my Patent No. 901,936. The body portion 23 overlies the frame 24 and is passed beneath the bearings 26 and thence to the points of support. I also contemplate the provision of suitable means for connecting the underlying edges of the body portion in such manner that the connecting means is supported at or closely adjacent to the upper face of the frame 24:, preferably in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 3 to In this manner the extent of sagging of the overlying body portion is greatly reduced or wholly prevented, and furthermore the overlying portion is reinforced and supported at all times. In Fig. 9 I have represented the inner edges as passing over the rods 15 and as connected by double ended hooks 17. In Fig. 10, I have represented said edges as provided with eyes 27 which receive hooks 28 upon the separate supporting member 29 which may be similar to that shown in Fig. 5. It is apparent that any suitable connecting means may be employed to attach the separate member 20 or '29 to the edges of the body portion.

It will thus be apparent that my invention provides means for supporting in position the mat-tress or frame covering while guarding the same from displacement, and that it also provides a supplemental support beneath or in conjunction with the frame but adjacent the upper face thereof. In certain types of my invention this supplemental support contacts directly with and receives and supports the covering when normally positioned and not subjected to strain. If desired, the supplemental support may be employed to subject the body of the hammock to lateral strain, so as to tension the same laterally of the hammock.

I11 Fig. 11, I have illustrated a form of seating that may be used with the frame herein illustrated and which is intended more particularly for use in connection with the frame when the latter is used as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. That is to say, it is intended to be attached to the frame when the latter rests upon but is not connected to the underlying body portion, whether the same be of skeleton form or entire. It may, however, be used in hammocks of the type shown in my Patent No. 901,936. In said Fig. 11, I have represented the said seating as composed of wire links 30 arranged in rectangular form and hooked at their ends into eyes 31 in the manner indicated in my application No. 457,466. Certain of the eyes 31 along the lateral edges of the seating are connected by inclined springs 32 to eyes 33 screwed into the inner edges of the frame. Preferably the springs 32 are arranged in pairs, the inner ends of each pair being connected to a single eye 31. The ends of the seating are connected to the frame by preferably straight springs 34. By this construction I avoid the necessity of interspersed springs, such as shown in said application N o. 4157,466. The springs 32 serve the double function of positioning the edges of seating and also affording a yielding support or connection for the seating.

Having thus described one type or embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims.

1. A couch hammock comprising in com bination a body portion, a frame adapted to overlie the same and to receive a mattress or other covering thereon, and protecting or hammock positioning members between the edges of the mattress and the ends of the hammock body.

2. A hammock comprising in combination a body, means to suspend the same, and a skeleton frame applied to or received upon said body and having means to support the underlying portion of the body adjacent the upper face of said frame.

3. A hammock comprising in combination a frame and a supporting body having lateral edges underlying said frame, means connecting said edges, and means to support said connecting means closely adjacent to the upper face of the frame.

at. A couch hammock or other frame provided with members or pieces serving as mattress guards or hammock positioning members, said members or pieces being secured to the frame and having parts projecting above the upper surface of the frame for the purpose described.

A couch hammock or other frame provided with members or pieces serving as corner mattress guards or hammock positioning members, said members or pieces being secured to the corners of the frame and having parts projecting above the upper surface of the frame for the purpose described.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a member or bracket to serve as a mattress guard or hammock positioning member and adapted to be applied to a hammock or similar frame and provided with two transverse webs between which said frame may be received and secured.

7. A couch hammock or other frame provided with mattress guards or hammock positioning members at its corners, each member having upper and lower transverse webs between which the frame is secured, one of said webs being perforated to receive securing means therefor.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a frame for a hammock or couch having end and side members and longitudinally extending pieces or members spaced from said side members and between which and the side members the body of the hammock may be inserted and over which said body may lie so as to be supported thereby.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a frame for a hammock or couch having end and side members and longitudinal rods adjacent each side member, between which and said side members the hammock body may be inserted.

10. A hammock comprising in combination a body having supporting means, and a skeleton frame applied thereto having longitudinal and end members, said frame also having longitudinally extending means to support the lower portion of the hammock body above the bottom of said frame.

11. A hammock comprising in combination a body having supporting means and a skeleton frame adapted to be supported upon the upper face of said body, said frame having longitudinally extending means to support the hammock body above the bottom of the frame.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a member or bracket to serve as a guard, support, or hammock positioning member and adapted to be secured to a hammock or similar frame, said member having two portions arranged at an angle to each other and adapted to embrace a corner of the said frame, said portions being adapted to extend above the upper edge of the frame when the member is secured thereto for the purpose described.

13. A hammock comprising in combination, a body, means to suspend the same, and a skeleton frame having end and side members, all of which are received upon the upper surface of the said body, the said frame having means to support, at or adj acent the upper face of the frame, the portion of the body which is between the said side members of the frame.

14-. A hammock comprising in combination a body having supporting ends and upstanding side edges, a frame adapted to be received upon the upper surfaces of said body and within said ends and upstanding edges, and members adapted to be applied to name to this specification, in the presence of sand frame along edge port-1on5 thereof, and two subscrlbmg wltnesses.

when so apphed extenchng upwardly flom ISAAC E PALMER the upper surface of sa1d frame and constl- 5 tutmg a posltlonmg means or support for fitnesses:

sald slde edges of the hammock body. FRED. E. FOWLER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my REUBEN M. Bonn. 

